All Creation Sings

We've been receiving a lot of packages in the past week or so, but one arrived yesterday that I was particularly excited about - my copy of the newest hymnal out from Augsburg Fortress! It's called All Creation Sings, and has a purple cover, a similar size/style to the blue With One Voice that was published in 1995. All Creation Sings (ACS) is meant to be a supplement to the red (or "cranberry", for the purists...) ELW, published in 2006. (Is that enough colors and initials for you?!)

Photo by David Beale on Unsplash

In many ways, this is not an ideal time for the release of a new resource for congregational singing, an activity we've avoided since March. One of the gifts of hymnals, however, is their use as at-home devotional resources, and the rich poetry of this hymnal, with many prayers, liturgies, and hymns focused on lament and justice, provides a wealth of material. 

It only just arrived, and my sight-reading skills are not great, but I did look through the whole thing and wanted to share a few reflections with you.

First, many of the liturgy, prayers, and hymns are available in both English and Spanish, and there are hymns from a variety of cultural backgrounds. This is an important reminder of the diversity of the church. Yes, there are ELCA congregations made up of siblings in Christ whose first language is something other than English! Yes, there are even members of congregations in our synod who would benefit from worship and devotional materials in their native tongue. We are enriched by such diversity as we are invited to hear new language to describe God and God's people.

Included with the new liturgical settings for Holy Communion are brief liturgies for lament and prayer in general, and specifically for lamenting racism and for a service after a violent event. As we've seen in recent years, there is a deep need for the Church to offer space for lament, anguish, grief, and questions. When we are grieving and angry, God is with us. These events are often needed at unexpected times, and I am grateful to have this resource should the need arise. 

And, of course, the hymns! They number from 901-1100, and almost all of them are not available in any of our other hymnals. In flipping through, I noticed: some familiar tunes with new words; a piece from the "Of the Land and Seasons" liturgy that was so beloved at Gettysburg Seminary; new hymns I learned as a participant at the Institute of Liturgical Studies conference at Valparaiso University; familiar names of modern composers; and many more! 

One hymn I wanted to highlight comes from the "lament" section, and the words are so fitting for the uncertain and painful times in which we find ourselves. It's called "Sometimes Our Only Song Is Weeping". The text is by Adam M. L. Tice. Here's verse 1:

Sometimes our only song is weeping;
our only sound is gasping breath.
Sometimes is seems that God is sleeping
while our brief lives are bound in death.
Who hears the song our sorrows swallow
and offers hope to calm our fears?
When all our words seem frail and hollow, 
God heeds the prayers within our tears. 

As the days go on, more of us will know dear friends and loved ones who have died of COVID. On top of that, there are other layers of grief and fear about health, finances, relationships, and more. In these heartbreaking times, know that God hears your anguish and lament, both spoken and unspoken.



Bonus resources: 

  • Visit this page to listen to some of the hymns in All Creation Sings, learn more about the hymnal, or order a copy for yourself.

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